DEARBORN–The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation will welcome nearly 200 students in grades 2-12 for its second annual Michigan Invention Convention from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Saturday, April 27.
The event is an interactive and interdisciplinary opportunity to use the invention process to create and pitch an original product at a state-wide convention. Approximately 1,500 students participate in the Invention Convention program throughout the year across the state.
Winners of the state finals advance to The Henry Ford’s Invention Convention U.S. Nationals, which will also be held in Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation, May 29–31.
“The Henry Ford is committed to creating opportunities that advance innovation, invention and entrepreneurship within the state of Michigan and around the globe in an effort to ignite an innovative mindset particularly among students,” said Patricia Mooradian, president and CEO of The Henry Ford. “We developed the Michigan Invention Convention to give these young minds a platform and a place for their inventions that, in some cases, are solutions to real-world problems. These youth inventors are offered the chance to display their creations inside Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation and consult with community leaders and educators on how to take their product to market.”
The Michigan Invention Convention provides a live, in-person opportunity for youth inventors and entrepreneurs to display their critical thinking skills through inventing, innovating and entrepreneurial activities. They’re tasked with identifying a problem, creating a solution, and then presenting it to a judging panel. Students compete in three age brackets, grades 2-5, 6-8 and 9-12. Judges then select one first place winner and one runner up from each grade bracket along with one grand prize winner from the competition.
The Henry Ford will also welcome local cultural institutions and organizations that are connected to the ideas of innovation, invention and entrepreneurship as showcase partners and workshop providers as part of the event. Students, families and educators will have the opportunity to participate in crafts, demonstrations and other activities throughout the day.
In addition, the institution will host an Educator Open House on that day from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Educators interested in checking out Michigan Invention Convention will receive free admission for themselves and one additional guest to Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation. They will also have a chance to vote for their favorite student project and in return receive tickets to Greenfield Village, Ford Rouge Factory Tour and vouchers for the Giant Screen Experience. To register for the Educator Open House, please visit thehenryford.org.